Closing a chamber of a container for a pharmaceutical product

Abstract

A device ( 1 ) for closing a chamber of a container having an opening for accessing the chamber comprises a plunger, a plunger seat ( 11 ), a container carrier ( 13 ) and a spacer ( 12 ). The plunger seat ( 11 ) releasably holds the plunger in a predefined alignment. The container carrier ( 13 ) is arranged to be connected to the container in a predefined position and alignment in relation to the opening of the container. The spacer ( 12 ) is arranged to position and align the plunger seat ( 11 ) adjacent to and distant from the container carrier ( 13 ) such that the opening of the container is open when the container is connected to the container carrier ( 13 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for closing a chamber of a container having an opening for accessing the chamber, comprising:
 a plunger; 
 a plunger seat comprising a plate with a through-hole; 
 a container carrier comprising a step and a clamping portion for clamping a section of the container adjacent to the opening of the container; and 
 a spacer, wherein
 the through-hole of the plunger seat releasably holds the plunger in a predefined alignment, 
 the container carrier extends beneath the spacer and is arranged to be connected to the container in a predefined position and alignment in relation to the opening of the container, 
 the spacer extends from beneath the plate of the plunger seat and is arranged to predefine a position and alignment of the plunger seat in relation to the container carrier, 
 in a predefined distant position of the device, the plunger seat is located distant from the opening of the container when the container is connected to the container carrier such that the opening of the container is open, and 
 in a predefined near position of the device, the plunger seat is arranged adjacent to the opening of the container when the container is connected to the container carrier such that the plunger is adapted to be provided into the opening of the container for closing the container, and 
 
 wherein the spacer transitions into the clamping portion of the container carrier via the step, and wherein the step extends radially inward from the spacer to the clamping portion, and wherein the step is configured to contact a flange formed around the opening of the container. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the through-hole is dimensioned to releasably hold the plunger when being arranged in the through-hole. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the clamping portion of the container carrier comprises at least one cylinder segment between which the section of the container adjacent to its opening is clampable. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the spacer comprises at least one cylinder segment connecting the clamping portion of the container carrier via the step and the plunger seat. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 4 , wherein each of the at least one cylinder segment of the clamping portion of the container carrier is connected to one of the at least one cylinder segment of the spacer via the step, and the at least one cylinder segment of the clamping portion has an inner diameter which is smaller than an inner diameter of the at least one cylinder segment of the spacer. 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 4 , wherein each of the at least one cylinder segment of the clamping portion of the container carrier is connected to one of the at least one cylinder segment of the spacer via the step, and the at least one cylinder segment of the spacer has an inner diameter which is smaller than an inner diameter of the at least one cylinder segment of the clamping portion. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plunger seat comprises at least one protrusion laterally projecting over the spacer.